The Rise Of The Back Five In League Two 2024/2025 – Tactical Analysis

In League Two this season, the top seven features six sides that predominantly play a five-at-the-back formation.

Doncaster Rovers are the only exception; however, they have also switched to this system for certain games. 

For comparison, in League One only three of the playoff sides play this shape, two of which are teams promoted from League Two last season.

None of the top six in either the Championship or the Premier League do.

So why is this?

This article will look at the features of a back five, the benefits and drawbacks, and why League Two, in particular, is so clearly suited to this shape.

The Back Five Explained

Firstly, a back-five system typically uses three central defenders with two wing-backs.

The two main variations then involve either three central midfielders setting up in front with two central forwards (5-3-2) or two central midfielders in front, with one centre forward and two wide players playing off him (5-2-3).

In this years League Two, only Bradford adopt the latter system mentioned, typically playing just one striker in either Andy Cook or Callum Kavanagh. 

Unlike a traditional back four, a back five tends to shift into a three during transition into possession.

Like we have previously seen with Antonio Contes Inter or Thomas Tuchels Chelsea, wing-backs can press high and wide and become wide midfielders in possession.

The system tends to heavily involve wing-backs, which has led to defenders such as Reece James and Achraf Hakimi putting up goal-contribution numbers typically seen only by wingers in recent years.

Benefits

The first benefit of this system is also the most obvious: Defensive stability.

Playing with five defenders and three central midfielders sets an extremely solid foundation to the side, and forms a core that is very difficult to infiltrate.